Veteran's Pentacle Quest: Justice at Last for Deceased Pagan Soldiers
Tuesday May 8, 2007
After many months, and even years, of battling the VA, Circle Sanctuary has proudly announced that a settlement has been reached allowing the use of the pentacle on the headstones of deceased Wiccan and Pagan soldiers.
It's about time. Read the full story at CNN: Pentacle OK For Fallen Soldiers
I first became involved in the Veterans' Pentacle Quest several months ago after reading about Patrick Stewart, an American soldier who was killed last year in Afghanistan. Pat was a Wiccan, and his widow, Roberta, fought tirelessly to allow the symbol of her husband's faith to be placed on his government-issued headstone. However, the VA adamantly refused for the past ten years to allow the pentacle to be added to the list of "approved" symbols. Bear in mind that symbols were available for 38 other spiritual paths, including some relatively lesser-known ones like Ba'hai and Eckanakar.
There's no telling exactly how many Wiccans and Pagans are on active duty in the military right now, but according to the Military Pagan Network, there are approximately 4300 Pagans in the service, about half of whom are Wiccan. There were currently eleven families waiting to add the pentacle to the headstone of their deceased loved ones, and on May 1, those emblems were finally made available.
Hundreds of people, myself included, mobilized and encouraged others to write letters of support on behalf of the family of Pat Stewart. This was a man who was killed in service to his country, and yet his country refused to grant him fair and equal treatment even in death, simply on the basis of his faith. We wrote to congresspeople, senators, the VA, and even the White House. We sent copies of our letters to the media, and to Selena Fox at Circle's Lady Liberty League. And somehow, some way, our voices were heard and the VA finally acknowledged the sacrifice of Sgt. Stewart and other soldiers like him.
According to an official statement by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the settlement was reached "to save the taxpayers any additional expense."
It may not be the best reason for making the pentacle available, but I'll take it. And in the meantime, we can all keep the memories of Sgt. Patrick Stewart and his fallen comrades in our hearts.
It's about time. Read the full story at CNN: Pentacle OK For Fallen Soldiers
I first became involved in the Veterans' Pentacle Quest several months ago after reading about Patrick Stewart, an American soldier who was killed last year in Afghanistan. Pat was a Wiccan, and his widow, Roberta, fought tirelessly to allow the symbol of her husband's faith to be placed on his government-issued headstone. However, the VA adamantly refused for the past ten years to allow the pentacle to be added to the list of "approved" symbols. Bear in mind that symbols were available for 38 other spiritual paths, including some relatively lesser-known ones like Ba'hai and Eckanakar.
There's no telling exactly how many Wiccans and Pagans are on active duty in the military right now, but according to the Military Pagan Network, there are approximately 4300 Pagans in the service, about half of whom are Wiccan. There were currently eleven families waiting to add the pentacle to the headstone of their deceased loved ones, and on May 1, those emblems were finally made available.
Hundreds of people, myself included, mobilized and encouraged others to write letters of support on behalf of the family of Pat Stewart. This was a man who was killed in service to his country, and yet his country refused to grant him fair and equal treatment even in death, simply on the basis of his faith. We wrote to congresspeople, senators, the VA, and even the White House. We sent copies of our letters to the media, and to Selena Fox at Circle's Lady Liberty League. And somehow, some way, our voices were heard and the VA finally acknowledged the sacrifice of Sgt. Stewart and other soldiers like him.
According to an official statement by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the settlement was reached "to save the taxpayers any additional expense."
It may not be the best reason for making the pentacle available, but I'll take it. And in the meantime, we can all keep the memories of Sgt. Patrick Stewart and his fallen comrades in our hearts.
My group also wrote leters in support of this cause. The Wiccan soldiers died defending our rights to religious freedom & it was apalling that the sign of their faith was not accepted! I am glad that my group had a small part in this. Every cause starts with just 1 person. Look what we as the united Pagan community accomplished!